Anthropocene: New dates proposed for the 'Age of Man'

The Anthropocene - a new geological time period that marks the "Age of man" - began in 1610, a study suggests. Scientists believe that the arrival of Europeans in the Americas had an unprecedented impact on the planet, marking the dawn of this new epoch. The findings are published in the journal Nature. Others say that the industrial revolution or the first nuclear tests better signal the start of the Anthropocene. While some believe the exact date for a new epoch can only be determined with the benefit of thousands or even millions of years of hindsight. An international Anthropocene Working Group is currently reviewing the evidence and will announce its favoured start date next year. Golden spikes Continue reading the main story “ Start Quote We look for these golden spikes - a real point in time when you can show in a record when the whole Earth has changed” Prof Mark Maslin University College London Geologists carve up Earth's history into chunks that reflect times of significant change on the planet, perhaps as a result of continental movement, a big asteroid strike, or a major shift in climate. We are still formally in the Holocene Epoch. It started more than 11,500 years ago as the last Ice Age came to an end-READ MORE -http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-31836233